What happened to the Old River Control Structure in the winter of 1973?
For the first ten years after completion of the Old River Control Structure, no major floods tested it, leading the Army Corps to declare, “We harnessed it, straightened it, regularized it, shackled it.” But the structure underwent a severe battering during the flood of 1973, one that left it permanently damaged.
What is the Old River Control auxiliary structure and what does it do?
The Old River Control Structure is a floodgate system in a branch of the Mississippi River in central Louisiana. It regulates the flow of water from the Mississippi into the Atchafalaya River, thereby preventing the Mississippi River from changing course.
Does the Old River Control Structure generate electricity?
The power plant, operating in conjunction with the Old River Control Project, utilizes the difference in head between the Mississippi and Atchafalaya riv- ers to produce electricity.
How deep is the old river?
5 to 10 feet
The Old River ranges from 5 to 10 feet (1.5 to 3.0 m) deep and from 150 to 1,600 feet (46 to 488 m) wide.
When did Mississippi River run backwards?
Between December 16, 1811, and late April 1812, a catastrophic series of earthquakes shook the Mississippi Valley. Towns were destroyed, an 18-mile-long lake was created and even the Mississippi River temporarily ran backwards.
What happened during the 1973 flood?
Most recently, the spring 1973 floods on the Mis·sissippi River produced a record 88 days of floodflow at Vicksburg, Miss., and 77 days at St. Louis, Mo.; inundated more than 12 million acres of land; and damaged over 30,000 homes.
Why was the Morganza spillway built?
During the 1973 Mississippi flood, the ORCS was being damaged due to high flow rates, leading to the opening of the Morganza Spillway to help relieve this pressure. Subsequently, the nearby Old River Control Auxiliary Structure (ORCAS) was constructed, adding additional floodgates for use during major floods.
Where is the old river control structure complex?
The Old River Control Structure complex. View is to the east-southeast, looking downriver on the Mississippi, with the three dams across channels leading to the Atchafalaya River to the right of the Mississippi.
When did the old river control structure discharge water into Atchafalaya?
Old River Control Structure discharging water into the Atchafalaya, May 2011. The Old River Control Structure is a floodgate system in a branch of the Mississippi River in central Louisiana. It regulates the flow of water leaving the Mississippi into the Atchafalaya River, thereby preventing the Mississippi river from changing course.
Where are the old river control fee lands located?
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers manages approximately 3,000 acres in fee and an additional 250,000 acres of easements within the Old River Control project areas. The fee lands are located in Concordia, Pointe Coupee and West Feliciana Parishes in the vicinity of Old River Lock and the Old River Control structures.
What caused the old river control structure to fail in 1973?
The Mississippi Flood of 1973 almost caused the control structure to fail. Maintenance of the integrity of the Old River Control Structure, the nearby Morganza Spillway, and other levees in the area is essential to prevent such a diversion.